The order has over a 1000 royal members and a (claimed) maximum of 24 non-royal members, personally chosen by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, who is also a member. It is awarded for 'outstanding public service and achievement'. [1]

Front row: from left to right : The Duke of Grafton, The King of Spain, The Queen of Denmark, The Duke of Gloucester, The Princess Royal, The Duke of Edinburgh, Queen Elizabeth II of the UK, The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Kent, Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg, The Queen of the Netherlands, The King of Norway.

See also

"... founded in 1430 by Duke Philip III of Burgundy to celebrate his marriage to the Portuguese princess Isabel of Aviz. ... it was modeled on the English Order of the Garter (Philip had been elected to membership of the Garter in 1422, but had declined to avoid offending the king of France), but dedicated to Saint Andrew. Like the Garter it was restricted to a limited number of knights. ..." [2]

"Its membership overlaps with that of the Garter, and both have included prominent Freemasons and even members of the original Bavarian Illuminati." [3]